Our staff comes across numerous articles each month that reflect current and trending planning practices, development patterns, and more. With each newsletter, we try to highlight a few that have made our wheels turn, with the hopes you might find them interesting or inspiring as well. Here’s the roundup:
Tennessee to Test Driverless Trucks on I-40 Freight Corridor
Tennessee has announced plans to begin testing driverless freight trucks on a 40-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between Memphis and Blue Oval City. The state has partnered with Cavnue, LLC to develop the “Smart Freight Corridor” pilot project, which aims to embrace new transportation technology and support economic growth. However, the prospect of autonomous trucks sharing the road has sparked safety worries among some drivers and observers.
Your daily steps may depend on your zip code more than your willpower
Researchers found that walkable city design—not personal motivation—was the key factor behind people taking 1,100 more steps per day
Read more at Scientific American
California bill will make clear distinction between e-bikes and e-motos
A bill introduced last week in California would better differentiate e-bikes from high-powered e-motos and mopeds in response to safety concerns in the state. Introduced by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, SB 1167 aims to regulate higher-powered devices according to speed, power, and intended use. The bill separates e-bikes, which are regulated as bicycles, from the faster and more powerful e-motos that are motor vehicles. Read more at Bicycle Retailer and Industry News
Senate Approves E-Bike Safety Bill
Legislation sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari and Senator Paul Moriarty that will improve the safe use of electric bikes was approved by the Senate today. The bill, S-4834, updates the regulation, licensing and classification requirements for e-bikes in New Jersey. The last time e-bike laws were updated was six years ago. Read more at New Jersey Senate Democrats
New Jersey Passes Most Restrictive E-Bike Law in the U.S.
The law sets New Jersey up to become the most unfriendly state for bicycling in the country by requiring registration and a driver’s license to ride all e-bikes in the state with an additional insurance requirement for Class 2 and 3 e-bikes. Read more at People for Bikes
Why cargo e-bikes are the missing middle of transportation
Owning and maintaining a car is expensive. Walking and biking are great options, but they can’t replace every trip. Cargo e-bikes can bridge the gap between the two, lowering transportation costs for families while making roads safer and more fun for everyone.
Read more at Transportation For America
Why transit, density, and walkability matter for social connection
There are many wonderful benefits to having reliable transit and being well-connected to jobs, housing, and services. It costs less than relying exclusively on a car, it creates a smaller carbon footprint, and it’s safer than driving. However, being well-connected also provides significant social benefits that are often overlooked. Read more at Transportation For America
New research shows where low stress streets make the biggest difference
Making streets less stressful for walkers and bikers is strongly associated with more walking and biking, and new research from Maryland helps clarify where those effects are most pronounced. Building on prior research showing that lower-stress street environments are linked to more walking and biking, this study found that reducing traffic stress has the biggest impact for shorter trips and in places where alternatives to driving already exist. Read more at State Smart Transportation Initiative
City of Cambridge Reports Better Bike Lanes Led to Surge In Bike Traffic
A City of Cambridge traffic analysis finds “that investing in high-comfort bikeways is helping more people than ever choose to bike in Cambridge” with a 250 percent increase in citywide bicycle traffic since 2004.
How the Push to Revive ‘Ghost Stores’ Can Bring Back Hyperlocal Communities
Vacant corner stores reborn as cafes, markets, and shops connect urban neighbors to fresh food and one another.
Read more at American Planning Association
Finding Solutions for Older Adults to Age in Grace
By considering the needs of a burgeoning senior population, planners can promote creative and community-focused housing options.